Cookies

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Otherwise, we'll assume you're OK to continue.

Durham Law School

Career Options and Employability

Law postgraduate researchers use their skills in conducting, analysing and writing up legal research in many subsequent professions. Some choose to become a junior academics employed by a university to continue building their research whilst undertaking a lecturing caseload, some enter the legal profession, and others work in the public, charity or not-for-profit sectors.

The taught LLM  programme provides a rigorous course of advanced study in those areas of commercial law that are most relevant to lawyers intending to practice in international law firms.  Besides providing students with specialised knowledge in these areas, the programme also develops the skill of critical and independent thinking valued by employers in many different careers.  They also provide a firm foundation for the substantial number of   LLM graduates who choose to continue on to higher study. 

“Year on year we find the quality of law student applications from Durham to be of a very high calibre, and we welcome applications from this ambitious student body.”

Vicki Wisson, Graduate Recruitment Marketing Advisor, Linklaters

Careers

Taught postgraduates enter careers in the legal public and private sectors as trainee solicitors , pupil barristers, and associate lawyers in the U.K and overseas. Example employers include ClearyGlottlieb LLP, Bank House Chambers,  District Court of Baden-Baden & Sorainen Law Offices

Some postgraduate researchers choose to become  junior academics employed by a university (an example includes Durham), to continue building their research whilst undertaking a lecturing caseload. Others become self employed researchers.   

Employment development opportunities

Advisors from the Careers, Enterprise and Employability Centre deliver a talk in induction to LLM students on resources they offer to enhance employability and work closely with the Law Department.

Work experience opportunities

The Law school runs a competition for a one week (paid) placement with a local commercial firm of solicitors. 

Examples of further study

Some examples of further study for LLM graduates include higher level law related research qualifications at Oxford University. Others enter related vocational postgraduate qualifications (BPTC and LPC) at Northumbria University.       

Postgraduate researchers destination examples includes higher level law research qualifications at Durham University.  

“Durham University Law School offers excellent opportunities to learn the most developed theories in the Common Law system. However, the Career Centre gave me great help to find a job. They helped me to improve my CV and prepare for assessment days. I applied for and attended open days at Norton Rose, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP and Macfarlanes LLP and completed a vacation scheme at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP. I learned about the operation mode and expertise of English firms and decided to use my experience and education to pursue a legal career in China. I believe this enhanced my employability as I was offered a position by one of the biggest law firms in China- King and Wood. Now I am working in the Corporate Team at the ShenZhen Office. Although it has been less than a year since I started working here, I have already assisted in 4 IPO cases and 7 M&A cases. The excellent experiences at Durham and rapid development in China provided me with the opportunity to make my dream come true. ”

Yudong Zhai (Peter). LLM in International Trade and Commercial Law (2009)